Thermocouple terminal connector

ABSTRACT

The disclosure hereof relates to thermocouple terminal connectors and more specifically to the construction of certain parts thereof providing for the engagement of a pair of terminals and for connecting the conductors thereto, the provision for connecting the conductors being such that the same are readily connectible to very fine wires and visual observation is provided to assure that connection is being effected or will be effected when contact is complete of the conductor with the mating elements providing for transfer of current therethrough, flat connector sections being provided for the interengagement of respective connectors and extending from the body in such a manner as to provide for female and male connection.

United States Patent [191 Tymkewicz Dec. 17, 1974 1 1 THERMOCOUPLE TERMINAL CONNECTOR [76] Inventor: John Tymkewicz, c/o Marlin Mfg.

Corp., 12404 Triskett Rd., Fairview.

[52] US. Cl. 339/176 T 339/191 R, 339/196 R,

339/266 R [51] Int. Cl H0lr 7/20, HOlr 19/02 [58] Field of Search 339/95 A, 176 T, 191 R,

339/191 S, 195 R, 196, 270, 195 S, 272 R, 272 A, 277, 266

[56] References Cited UNiTED STATES PATENTS 781,686 2/1905 Sibley 339/277 R 1,689,080 l0/l928 Nero 339/266 R 1,896,948 2/1933 Gough 339/270 R X 2,610,996 9/1952 Rickabaugh 339/272 A UX 2.934.737 4/1960 Gibson 339/195 R X 3,020,518 2/1962 Camping et a1 339/191 R 3,273,105 9/1966 Klassen 339/176 T 3,514,744 5/1970 Hollander 339/191 R FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 168,875 10/1959 Sweden 33 /266 R 1,241,886 6/1967 Germany 339/266 R 379,844 8/1923 Germany... 339/196 R 163,819 7/1943 Australia 339/191 A Primary ExaminerRoy D. Frazier Assistant Examiner-Lawrence J. Staab Attorney, Agent, or Firm-R0bb and Robb.

[5 7] ABSTRACT The disclosure hereof relates to thermocouple terminal connectors and more specifically to the construction of certain parts thereof providing for the engagement of a pair of terminals and for connecting the conductors thereto, the provision for connecting the conductors being such that the same are readily connectible to very fine wires and visual observation is provided to assure that connection is being effected or will be effected when contact is complete of the conductor with the mating elements providing for transfer of current therethrough, flat connector sections being provided for the interengagement of respective connectors and extending from the body in such a manner as to provide for female and male connection.

5 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures THERMOCOUPLE TERMINAL CONNECTOR OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION It is a principal object of this invention to provide thermocouple terminal connectors which are of small size so as to be useable in limited areas, provide for the connecting portions thereof to be fonned of material from which the thermocouple conductors themselves are formed so as to eliminate spurious EMF and to make readily accessible the respective connections so that quick and sure connections can be made as required.

Another object of the invention is to provide thermocouple terminal connectors involving the use of bodies of relatively small size in which are seated male and female contact units, each of which comprise an upper and lower part, including a contact portion and a connector section to effect electrical contact between said portions of connected units, including a peculiar formation of the connector section so that insertion of the conductors therein is possible without difficulty and by manipulation of a fastener, connection is effected in a positive manner.

Another object of the invention is to provide thermocouple terminal connectors in which pairs of contact units are arranged in separable bofes and the bodies are formed with conductor dividers so that as conductors are to be connected to the bodies, they will be directed into appropriate connector areas and maintained therein when fastened in accordance with provisions made hereby.

Other and further objects of the invention will be understood from a consideration of the specification appenced hereto and disclosed in the drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a pair of thermocouple terminal connectors in position for connection.

FIG. 2 is a view with certain cover portions of the connectors of FIG. I removed to more clearly illustrate positioning of conductors therein.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view showing a male contact unit to more particularly disclose the formation thereof.

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3, showing a female contact unit and the construction thereof.

FIG. 5 is a view from the left-hand end of FIG. 2 more particularly disclosing the novel arrangement for effecting connection of the conductor to each of the contact units.

FIG. 6 is a view from the right-hand end of FIG. 2 to illustrate a corresponding arrangement as shown in FIG. 5 of the female terminal connector construction.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now to FIG. 1, the connectors of this invention are shown as being a male connector generally designated l, and a female connector generally designated 2 of quite similar construction, each having a cover 3 thereon fastened in place by the fasteners 4.

The connectors 1 and 2 each include a connector body, the connector body of the connector 1 being designated 5, and that of connector 2 being designated 6, these being more particularly shown in plan in FIG. 2.

As will be observed, the body 5 includes a pair of cavities 7 and 8, between which is a conductor divider 9, arranged opposite a groove 10, which groove 10 forms a passage 10a when completed by a corresponding groove 10b in the cover 3 so that it will permit the insertion of conductors such as 11 and 12 therein.

The connectors under consideration are male and female, and the construction of the male connector will be first referred to, including a male contact unit as shown in FIG. 3, comprising an upper part 13 and a lower part 14, the combination of said parts including a contact portion 15 and a connector section 16 divided by an imaginary line A, said connector section 16 including a stationary area 17 on the lower part 14, and a movable area 18 on the upper part 13, said movable area being twisted as suggested in FIG. 3 so as to cause area 18 to lie substantially out of contact with the stationary area 17 as suggested in FIG. 5.

The contact portions of the contact unit in FIG. 3, substantially parallel, the contact portion in this Figure having a male contact 20 of flat configuration extending outwardly beyond the body as shown in FIG. 2.

It will be understood that the other of the pair of male contact units provided will include a similar male contact 21 extending beyond the body 5 with the other portion of the contact unit being formed as in FIG. 3, with a twistable or movable area like 18 being similarly positioned with respect to a stationary area corresponding to the area 17 in said figure.

Turning now to a consideration of FIG. 2, the body 6 thereof is formed so as to receive therewithin a pair of female contact units generally designated 23 and 24, each of these units being formed as shown in FIG. 4 with an upper part 25 and a lower part 26, which parts include a contact portion 27 and a connector section 28 divided by an imaginary line B.

The connector section 28 includes a stationary area 29 on the lower part 26 and a movable area 30 on the upper part 25, said movable area being twisted as in FIG. 4 so as to position said area 30 substantially out of contact with the stationary area 29.

Considering FIG. 6 now, it will be seen that the twisted or movable area 30 of the connector section 28 is out of parallel with and slightly at an angle in respect to the lower area 29 providing a space as suggested at 31, in which a conductor may be received without any other manipulation being required than the insertion thereof. When a pair of conductors is introduced, a divider denoted 32 effects separation of the conductors and alignment with and movement into the opening 31, there being a corresponding opening 31 a formed by the twisted or movable area 30 of the other of the pair of female contact units 25 to receive the conductor therein.

In this particular configuration, it may be desirable to provide a leaf-spring 25a of inverted flattened U- configuration above the contact portion of each of the female contact units to assist in complete contact of the contact portions with the 'male contacts 20 and 21 when the terminal connectors are in inter-engaged condition.

As seen in this Figure, fasteners 33 extend through suitable openings 34 in the movable areas 30 into threaded openings 35 in the stationary areas 29, manipulation of these fasteners causing the twisted areas 30 to be flattened, thereby clamping the conductors inserted in the openings 31 and 31a without requiring An identical arrangement is provided in FIG. 5 as that just described in detail, the movable areas 18 for example, corresponding to the areas 30 in FIG. 6 providing openings 31 and 31a by the twisting of the movable areas with respect to the stationary areas 17 whereby to receive conductors therein.

Suitable fasteners 33 will also be provided for the male contact units extending through openings 39 of the upper areas 18 into threaded openings 40 in the stationary areas 17.

Turning now to FIG. 2 and particularly the left-hand or male connector thereof, it will be seen that because the movable area 18 as to the portion in which the fastener 33 is seated is formed so as to leave a space 41 between said area and the wall 42 of the cavity 7, when a conductor is inserted in the openeing 31a for example, the end of such conductor may be observed when it has entered such space, assuring that clamping and contact will be completed between such conductor and the contact unit engaged thereby.

The same construction is likewise disclosed with each of the other contact units in the connectors, substantially reducing the time required to effect connections therewith.

I claim:

1. In thermocouple terminal connector construction of the class described in combination, a male contact unit and a female contact unit, a body for each unit, each said unit comprising an upper and lower part, each of said parts including a contact having a contact portion and a connector section spaced apart along the longitudinal axis of said contact, said contact portions being formed to effect electrical contact between the said portions of connected units, said connector section of each unit including a stationary area and an elongated movable area, said movable area being given a partial twist with respect to said longitudinal axis to position at least a part of said movable area away from said stationary area to effect the connecting of the unit with a unitary conductor inserted between said areas, and means to move said movable area of each unit from the twisted position into contact with such conductor and maintain the same so connected in electrical contact in the position as inserted solely by actuation of the means.

2. The combination as claimed in claim 1, wherein a pair of contact units is positioned in each body.

3. The combination as claimed in claim 2, wherein each body is formed with a conductor divider to direct each unitary conductor into aligned position in its respective contact unit for conductive contact with its respective each such unit.

4. The combination as claimed in claim 2, wherein each body is formed with a conductordivider to direct each conductor into aligned position for conductive contact with its respective unit, such divider being positioned about centrally of the body, a passage from one end of the body being directed toward said body to receive conductors therethrough.

5. The combination as claimed in claim 1, wherein the certain contact portions comprise flat male elements having an enlarged area at one end, comprising the stationary area, the movable area includes an enlarged area substantially co-extensive with that at the end of the stationary area and twisted so as to have a portion thereof out of contact with the stationary area a fastener engages both enlarged areas, said areas being seated in a cavity in the body of greater size thanthe flat areas whereby a unitary conductor may be positioned by insertion therebetween so as to extend beyond said areas and the extended part be visible, whereby to assure complete contact with such areas when the fastener is tightened. 

1. In thermocouple terminal connector construction of the class described in combination, a male contact unit and a female contact unit, a body for each unit, each said unit comprising an upper and lower part, each of said parts including a contact having a contact portion and a connector section spaced apart along the longitudinal axis of said contact, said contact portions being formed to effect electrical contact between the said portions of connected units, said connector section of each unit including a stationary area and an elongated movable area, said movable area being given a partial twist with respect to said longitudinal axis to position at least a part of said movable area away from said stationary area to effect the connecting of the unit with a unitary conductor inserted between said areas, and means to move said movable area of each unit from the twisted position into contact with such conductor and maintain the same so connected in electrical contact in the position as inserted solely by actuation of the means.
 2. The combination as claimed in claim 1, wherein a pair of contact units is positioned in each body.
 3. The combination as claimed in claim 2, wherein each body is formed with a conductor divider to direct each unitary conductor into aligned position in its respective contact unit for conductive contact with its respective each such unit.
 4. The combination as claimed in claim 2, wherein each body is formed with a conductor divider to direct each conductor into aligned position for conductive contact with its respective unit, such divider being positioned about centrally of the body, a passage from one end of the body being directed toward said body to receive conductors therethrough.
 5. The combination as claimed in claim 1, wherein the certain contact portions comprise flat male elements having an enlarged area at one end, comprising the stationary area, the movable area includes an enlarged area substantially co-extensive with that at the end of the stationary area and twisted so as to have a portion thereof out of contact with the stationary area a fastener engages both enlarged areas, said areas being seated in a cavity in the body of greater size than the flat areas whereby a unitary conductor may be positiOned by insertion therebetween so as to extend beyond said areas and the extended part be visible, whereby to assure complete contact with such areas when the fastener is tightened. 